Washington Redskins 2018 season quarterback grades
By Ian Cummings
Josh Johnson
For a time, Josh Johnson was a beacon of hope, for a city that needed it far too badly.
The Redskins signed Johnson after their first quarrel against the Eagles, in which backup quarterback Colt McCoy was lost to the season with a broken leg. Johnson, who had not logged an NFL start since 2011, was assigned to be Mark Sanchez’s backup. But when Sanchez threw for 38 yards and two interceptions in three quarters, Johnson was subbed in, to give any kind of life at all to the Redskins, who were down 40-0 to the Giants.
In one quarter, Johnson brought the final to 40-16, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown, while also scoring another on the ground. His performance was overshadowed by the monstrosity of a loss that occurred, but the next week, he’d have another chance to prove himself. And he did.
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Johnson led the Redskins to a low-scoring win over the admittedly limping Jacksonville Jaguars, and in that effort, he showed poise and level-headedness in the pocket against one of the league’s most relentless pass rushing units. Johnson’s mobility served him well again, as he ran for almost 50 yards, keeping Washington’s offense moving when it needed to, in any way possible.
The Jacksonville win was Johnson’s first career win as a starter, at 32 years old. It was a Cinderella story Redskins fans, who’d seen their season collapse so swiftly before their eyes, needed at the time. But that story was not meant to last. Although Johnson had a stellar first half against Tennessee, he’d close out the final five quarters of the season with three interceptions. His final stat line? 52 for 91, 590 yards, four total touchdowns, four interceptions.
Still, this shouldn’t be an assumed good-bye for Johnson. The veteran displayed steely resolve on the field, amidst very tough circumstances. Think about it; this was a man who was thrown behind a makeshift offensive line, in an offense he’d used Madden to learn team mates’ names. And he led them to a win. Players likened Johnson’s leadership to that of Alex Smith, an exalted endorsement for the San Diego product, for those who know how highly Smith was regarded in less than one year with the team.
The end may not have been so grand. But Johnson did more than enough to earn a place in the NFL again, and if the Redskins are smart, they’ll at least explore the possibility of keeping him aboard for 2019. With their degree of uncertainty at quarterback, they could use a cheap set of idle feet and healthy legs.